IPL auction: Green could be biggest buy, but can't cross INR 18 crore mark

CSK and KKR are best placed to break the bank for Cameron Green, but a new IPL rule prevents the player from being paid more than INR 18 crore

Nagraj Gollapudi03-Dec-20258:03

Will KKR go all-out to get Cameron Green in?

IPL mini auctions have had record paydays for overseas players in the past, and Cameron Green could take that trend forward come December 16.Green has been tipped to become the most expensive buy at the upcoming IPL auction because both Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who have the highest purses (INR 64.3 crore and INR 43.4 crore respectively), are expected to put in strong bids for the allrounder.In 2023, Mitchell Starc was bought by KKR for INR 24.75 crore, minutes after Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) acquired Pat Cummins for 20.5 crore, making him the first player to breach the INR 20-crore mark at an IPL auction. Those overshadowed the INR 18.5 crore Punjab Kings (PBKS) had bid for Sam Curran in the previous mini auction in 2023.Related

IPL 2026 auction – De Kock added in 359-player shortlist, Green part of first set

Green in line for IPL payday; Maxwell, Moeen opt out

At the 2023 auction, Green became the second-most expensive buy when Mumbai Indians (MI) had bought him at INR 17.5 crore. MI went on to trade Green to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) a year later for the same price. In his two IPL seasons so far, in 2023 and 2024, Green has played 29 matches, scoring 707 runs at a strike rate of 153.70.He has listed himself at the maximum base price of INR 2 crore for the latest auction.While he could become a millionaire again, it won’t cross INR 20 crore, since the maximum fee cannot exceed INR 18 crore. This will apply even if the bid is higher than that number.That is because of the new “maximum fee” rule that the IPL brought in last year to address the collective concern of franchises that some overseas players were registering exclusively at mini auctions to exploit the supply-demand imbalance. Consequently, the IPL put in the maximum-fee rule where the overseas player cannot be paid more than INR 18 crore, which was the highest slab for franchises retaining players ahead of the 2025 mega auction.Cameron Green winds up for a big hit•BCCI

If the bid exceeded the INR 18-crore mark, the additional money, the IPL said, would be utilised by the BCCI for player welfare. In a note to franchises last year, the IPL said: “Any overseas player’s auction fee at small auction will be lower than the highest retention price [of INR 18 crore] and the highest auction price at the big auction. In case the highest auction price at the big auction is INR 20 crore, then INR 18 crore will be the cap. If the highest auction price at big auction is INR 16 crore, then the cap will be INR 16 crore.”The rule in place going forward is that the auction for the player will continue as normal till the player is sold, and the final auction amount will be charged to the auction purse. “The incremental amount over INR 16 or 18 crore, as the case may be, will be deposited with BCCI. The incremental amount deposited with BCCI will be utilised towards players’ welfare.”The maximum-fee rule, though, will not be applicable to Indian players, who will get the actual bid money, which will be deducted from franchise purse.A total of 77 slots are available to be filled at the auction including 31 for overseas players. There are 16 capped Indian players in the longlist, which will be pruned once franchises submit their final wishlist to the IPL by December 5.

“Similar” to Semenyo: Liverpool in daily talks to sign £88m Salah successor

Quite how it has all come to this continues to be debated, but the fact of the matter is that Mohamed Salah could be nearing the end of his glorious spell at Liverpool.

It was just over six months ago that the Egyptian sat atop his throne, Premier League champion for the second time at Anfield and fresh from signing a bumper new deal to end months of speculation.

The main man under Jurgen Klopp, the ex-Chelsea winger appeared to go to an even higher level following Arne Slot’s arrival, ending 2024/25 with a ridiculous tally of 57 goals and assists in all competitions.

Like all good things, however, an end is now in sight, with the 33-year-old’s AFCON involvement, alongside the looming January window, sparking suggestions that he could have already turned out in Red for the final time.

It would not be a fitting way to bow out, yet rarely do even the brightest and best get the send-off nor the finale they deserve. Even the great Steven Gerrard had to fly the nest for MLS to see out his playing days.

Regardless of whether a departure does occur in January or over the summer, Salah appears to have made his long-term future untenable – now to find a suitable replacement…

Latest on Liverpool's search to replace Salah

Rumours are already swirling regarding Salah’s potential next move, with reports last week suggesting that Turkish giants Galatasaray are among the clubs to have made an offer to the ageing sensation.

The Reds are unlikely to receive anywhere close to the reported £200m bid that was lodged from Saudi Arabia two years ago, although there would surely be a hope to cash in for as much as possible, in order to reinvest those funds on a replacement.

There have been continued claims that Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo has been earmarked as one of the more high-profile options to help fill the void, while TEAMtalk are reporting that FSG could also look to the Bundesliga to find their next Anfield star.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Indeed, as per the report, the Merseysiders are accelerating their interest in RB Leipzig teenager, Yan Diomande, having begun negotiations with the 19-year-old’s representatives.

While no bid has yet been placed for the £88m-rated wideman, the piece does note that Liverpool are engaged in almost ‘daily contact’ with his agent, ahead of making what would likely be a summer move.

That’s not to say that a January move is completely ruled out for the in-demand starlet – who is fielding interest from across Europe – with it yet to be seen whether the reigning Premier League champions will firm up their interest with a winter offer.

How Diomande compares to Semenyo & Salah

As stated above, a leading target to replace Salah is, of course, the aforementioned Semenyo, with the Ghanaian available for £65m due to the presence of a release clause in his Cherries contract.

Whether he would represent an alternative or a possible teammate for the 25-year-old remains to be seen, although Diomande is an equally as exciting talent who could reinvigorate Slot’s forward line.

Semenyo has been one of the Premier League’s leading figures this season with nine goals and assists to date, although Diomande has dazzled during his breakthrough year in the Bundesliga, chipping in with eight goal involvements himself for Leipzig.

That includes a stunning hat-trick during the weekend win over Eintracht Frankfurt, a performance that only served to reinforce just why the promising Ivorian is being watched so closely.

Fleet of foot and with pace to burn, the comparisons to Semenyo are also there to see, with The Athletic’s Seb Stafford-Bloor noting that Diomande is “physically similar” to the Bournemouth star, “but with all the same skill and touch”.

Games

13

13

Starts

9

12

Goals

6

4

Assists

2

2

Big chances missed

2

6

Big chances created

2

5

Key passes*

1.0

2.2

Pass accuracy*

82%

75%

Successful dribbles*

2.8

0.8

The respected Bundesliga insider, writing on X back in November, did hint that the teen is “not ready yet” for a Premier League move, although Liverpool would be wise to get ahead in the race for his signature, even if it means waiting to strike next summer.

That said, there’s no reason why he couldn’t come in and hit the ground running in January, if a deal were to be struck, with the youngster currently comparing favourably to his fellow wingers across Europe’s top five leagues.

As per FBref, he ranks in the top 1% for successful take-ons per 90, while also ranking in the top 2% for progressive carries per 90, highlighting just what an elite dribbler and ball-carrier he is.

Semenyo’s own quality in that regard was evident on the opening day, as he ran the length of Anfield unopposed, before coolly converting in that mad-cap 4-2 win for Slot’s side.

The prospect of potentially adding both the ex-Bristol City man and Diomande into the fold in 2026 would be a truly exciting one, with two Semenyo-esque figures perhaps what is needed to provide an upgrade on the flanks.

Revealed: The Salah decision Richard Hughes has made at Liverpool today

Mo Salah has been omitted form the Liverpool squad this week.

3 ByFFC Staff 4 days ago

Wildcard Jacks pick for Ashes is England's latest Bazball call

Back-up spinner, reserve batter or cover for Ben Stokes, Will Jacks ticks boxes for Australia tour

Vithushan Ehantharajah25-Sep-20250:52

What Will Jacks offers the England Ashes squad

It was a selection akin to a movie Easter egg. A nod to preceding works, like a Cornetto or colour-based last names, which in this case was left-field selections.This winter will be three years since Will Jacks’ previous two Test caps, an anniversary he will mark as a member of England’s most optimistic Ashes tour in 15 years. And the thread of selecting a player with just five first-class appearances in the last two summers tethers Jacks to 2024’s selection trilogy of Shoaib Bashir, Josh Hull and Jacob Bethell as unorthodox picks.Much like Jacks, those three were the kind of calls that required a degree of imagination. Squint hard enough at the time and you could see why Bashir was different to other English spinners, that Bethell had the wares to be a world-beater and the value in fast-tracking a tall left-arm quick.That this trio of 21-year-olds will be in Australia this winter – Hull likely to feature on the Lions tour which runs alongside the main group through to Brisbane – speaks of varying degrees of success with hot-housing development through early exposure. Which makes Jacks’ selection that much more intriguing.Related

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Brook named as Ashes vice-captain as Jacks wins recall

He is not really there as England’s second spinner over Rehan Ahmed, even if his knack of coming over and down the ball at six-foot-two carries similarities to Bashir. Nor has he expressly beaten Jordan Cox to the spare batter slot, though he also offers the attacking verve of his international and Oval Invincibles team-mate. Jacks, who turns 27 on the first day of the Ashes, is neither and, yet, both.”I think Jacks goes in as a tactical decision as much as a replacement,” managing director Rob Key said on Wednesday.”You can have a second spinner who’s just there as an out-and-out spinner, who is just going to replace the number one if he goes down. But it’s going to be down to the seamers and batters to get the runs and wickets.”Will Jacks isn’t the finished article as a spinner but he’s someone you might be able to get to hold an end up if we’re thinking spinners aren’t going to be the ones that define the series. It may well be different.”The ability to bat too. We think he’s someone who’s not going to be overawed by the occasion, the extra pace and bounce you get over there. He’s just a really handy option to have for the different conditions we might come up against.”Key’s assertion that Jacks won’t be “overawed” is, ultimately, what got his selection over the line. And it does not just pertain to playing high pace above your waist.Brendon McCullum has been open about “the noise” England should expect in Australia, on and off the field. As much as he will try and insulate them from it, he is all too aware the onus will be on individuals to deal with what pressure comes their way. Jacks, they feel, will not shrink in that environment as others have done.Will Jacks last played a Test in Pakistan three years ago•AFP/Getty ImagesThough Jacks has not been a regular under McCullum, with just two Tests in 2022 against Pakistan and 10 limited-overs matches this year, the 26-year-old has a reputation for fronting up.A sought-after talent on the franchise circuit, he has always been entrusted with key roles at the top of the order and with the ball, particularly with Oval Invincibles and Pretoria Capitals. Still yet to crack the IPL, a century in Ahmedabad for Royal Challengers Bengaluru and all-round consistency for Mumbai Indians in the most recent edition hint at an unflappable character, unperturbed by the bright lights.Of course, fronting up itself is no guarantee of success, and there are examples of that within Jacks’ sporadic international career.During his second Test, in Multan, he batted three in the second innings – albeit only lasting four balls – to allow Ollie Pope to come in lower down the order after keeping. In last year’s T20 World Cup, he took the second over against Australia and conceded 22, lined up to Bridgetown’s short side by Travis Head. His current reinvention as a white-ball finisher has, so far, been modest.His biggest call to arms this winter may not be deputising for Bashir, whether through injury or England deciding against playing an out-and-out spinner if conditions dictate. It may well be as a replacement for Ben Stokes.England’s talismanic captain is said to be well on course to recover from his right shoulder tear and play a full part in the Ashes as an allrounder. But after missing five Tests in the space of 12 months due to three internal injuries, contingency plans have been made.The clearest of those has been Harry Brook’s ascension to vice-captaincy ahead of Pope. “He’s set his style and identity, which is very similar to someone like Ben,” Key noted of Brook’s work since assuming limited-overs captain from Jos Buttler at the start of the summer.Replacing Stokes’ aura and tactical acumen will not be straightforward, though the sense is Brook offers more of both than Pope. Practically, he has often been replaced by a seamer. Even as far back as the 2017-18 Ashes when Steven Finn, and then Tom Curran, were drafted after Stokes was suspended following a fight outside a Bristol nightclub.Should Stokes be unavailable at any point this winter, Jacks offers a neat compromise. Not only could he bat at No. 6, thus allowing Jamie Smith to stay at seven, but it would then mean an extra seamer play instead of Bashir. That way, England would be able to maintain a similar balance of batting depth and bowling options.Essentially, Jacks’ selection can be boiled down, simply, as England’s 16th and final pick. A wildcard for a trip to a country where they have not won a Test since 2011. Someone offering what they might want as much as what they might need.

He’s “better” than Arteta: Edwards in Liverpool bid to hire Slot upgrade

Liverpool haven’t been very good this season. That’s an understatement, too, with Arne Slot’s side having fallen so far below expectations after so dominantly winning the Premier League last year.

Though the Reds have stopped the rot that was spreading after nine losses from 12 fixtures in all competitions, winning at West Ham before drawing against Sunderland at Anfield, there is still so much to be desired from this group, whose mini-revival is presently built atop a house of cards.

Whether the head coach finds the formula that will shift Liverpool back into a winning outfit is anyone’s guess, but it’s clear that performances and results have been so far below the firmly set standard that it beggars belief, and Slot needs to make changes before he finds himself on borrowed time, with potential successors already being touted in the media.

Liverpool looking at Slot replacement

According to Caught Offside, Liverpool chiefs Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes are putting serious thought into appointing Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner to replace Slot.

Glasner, 51, has defied the odds at Selhurst Park over the past few years, winning the FA Cup in May and then the Community Shield (against Liverpool) at the start of the current campaign. They are currently fifth in the Premier League.

It’s important to stress that there have not been any talks with Palace or the Austrian’s entourage. FSG remain committed to guiding their Dutch coach through this storm.

However, if it doesn’t abate, sources indicate Glasner is emerging as the preferred candidate to take the Anfield hot seat.

What Oliver Glasner would bring to Liverpool

Glasner has achieved great things with Crystal Palace, and his past Europa League-winning success with Eintracht Frankfurt corroborates the claim that he is a “top-five manager in the world”, as suggested by one English football content creator.

Though appointing Glasner would require something of a tactical transformation on Merseyside, with the Palace boss typically fielding a 3-4-2-1 formation, he is relaxed about the minutiae of his systems, which are interchangeable and open to tweaks. This tactical pliability suggests that he could be an interesting pick from the FSG hierarchy.

Glasner gets it. And, moreover, he speaks with the clarity and intellect to throw down with any top manager in the Premier League, perhaps even having the credentials to wage tactical battle against the likes of Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta.

The ever-outspoken Jamie O’Hara has even gone as far as to suggest that Glasner is “a better manager” than Arteta, with his trophy-winning credentials and the instant level-up he has overseen in south London bearing testament to that claim.

O’Hara’s football allegiances may lend themselves to a dislike of the high-flying Gunners project, but there is something to be said of Glasner’s success in taking over a Palace side that had lost their way under Roy Hodgson and have since achieved superstardom, plying their craft in Europe and enjoying new status as multi-trophy holders.

There is an urgency to Palace’s creative play that does not detract from their grace and elegance. They have created more big chances this season than both Arsenal and Liverpool. In fact, Manchester City are the only outfit with a higher count at this stage.

Man City

35

46

Chelsea

25

41

Brentford

21

41

Crystal Palace

18

41

Arsenal

27

40

Palace’s inherent playmaking prowess under Glasner’s wing suggests that he could be the perfect fit for a Liverpool side chock-full of devastating attacking quality.

Things might have gone stale in Slot’s system, but Glasner would prove the likes of O’Hara right by joining the Anfield side and elevating this Reds side back to illustrious heights.

Glasner could be the project manager Liverpool need to rival Arteta and Arsenal and reclaim their place on their perch, should Slot indeed face the axe in the coming months.

Liverpool ace who's fallen off a cliff looks like "Fabinho in his final year"

Liverpool’s draw against Sunderland illustrated a litany of problems Slot is still dealing with.

ByAngus Sinclair Dec 4, 2025

Nothing Is Normal About Trey Yesavage’s Sudden Rise to World Series Stardom

LOS ANGELES — There are places on this earth a person can go to test the thickness of their skin and the resolve of their fight-or-flight instinct. Death Valley. The Danakil Depression. Everest. The visiting bullpen at Dodger Stadium.

Toronto Blue Jays 22-year-old pitcher Trey Yesavage, who only started pitching professionally six months ago, stepped into the toxicity of Chavez Ravine about 20 minutes before World Series Game 5 Wednesday, preparing for the first road postseason start of his budding career.

“You’ll never make it through two innings!” someone shouted. “Make it one!” said another. “You’re going to give up a lot of home runs!”

Decorum allows that those are among the few barbs that can be shared.

What happened next was the harbinger to what would be one of the greatest displays of pitching the World Series has ever seen.

Yesavage turned to his pitching coach, Pete Walker, and said, “I love this!” He recalled later, “That was so much fun, with the way everybody was hating me.”

Once Yesavage stepped on the game mound, the Dodgers, the defending National League champions, the highest scoring team in the league and a team that had just seen him five days ago, had no chance. Yesavage and the Blue Jays overwhelmed the Dodgers in a 6–1 victory that puts Toronto one game from the World Series title. Its first chance is Game 6 Friday.

Yesavage set World Series records for the most strikeouts without a walk (12), most strikeouts by a rookie pitcher and most swings and misses (23) in the pitch-tracking era, which began in 2008.

He did it all with a weird, mechanical delivery in which he takes a short stride and windmills the ball home from a high release point. Yesavage pitches like a man changing a light bulb while standing reluctantly and perilously on a ladder.

 ”So, I think he was very comfortable there,” Walker said. “I'd been here for a couple of days, seen the atmosphere. He wasn't overwhelmed by any stretch. I could tell by his warmup.

“He locked in, had great things to say, had a great approach. And really, you know, even from the first few warmup hits, I have a good feel for when someone's gonna be on, to be honest with you. And I felt like he was gonna be on here.”

Yesavage threw seven innings while continuing to keep the Dodgers in a deep October funk. The Dodgers must win Game 6 behind Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

SELBE: World Series Game 5 Takeaways: Dave Roberts Is Running Out of Options

Yesavage’s accelerated path to stardom

It was only a year ago that Yesavage entered the draft out of East Carolina. He was a consensus top five pick but slid because of concerns about his medicals. The Mariners rated him among the top two picks in the draft but passed because of injury concerns. The Jays snapped him up at 20. The first thing everybody noticed about him was his goofy, aw-sucks mannerisms. He started the next season, this year, at Class A. Word began to spread about this amazing giraffe of a pitcher.

“You know, when we drafted him, we obviously had a video and we looked at him and you’re like, “Oh, boy, that kid's gonna be really good,’” Walker said. “But even early on, because it is a funky delivery, funky release, it seemed like early on watching a lot of balls that were in the dirt were [inducing swings].”

Said Kevin Gausman, “I knew we drafted him. Honestly, the first video I saw of him throwing after the draft, I was kinda like, ‘Wow, what is this?’ It kind of jumps out. It's funky, it's kind of head, head towards the other.”

Yesavage hit every rung on the ladder before making his MLB debut Sept. 15.

“ Honestly,” Walker said, “we're hearing about him punching everybody out and I don't think anybody here honestly thought they would see him here.  I honestly thought only of him getting to the big leagues and getting his feet wet, as opposed to getting the big leagues and dominating the World Series.”

Split-finger determined success

Yesavage and Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk executed Toronto’s game plan to perfection. / Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated

The Jays are 7–1 when Yesavage starts, the only loss being a clunker in ALCS Game 1 in which his signature split went missing. But with Walker’s help, and relying more on feel than a mechanical tweak, Yesavage found his elusive butterfly of a pitch.

 “The last game he really had a tough time locating it,” Walker said. “He felt like it was not in his hand properly and just had a tough time getting the action he was looking for. So we went to the slider a little bit more last time, used more fastballs, but we knew we had to have the split today.”

His split in Game 5 was devastating. He threw 30 of them. The Dodgers tried to hit it 10 times. They missed seven times. He threw seven innings making the Dodgers and their taunting fans look foolish.

“He told me, ‘I love this,’ before it started,” Walker said. “I could tell he was comfortable. He was very comfortable to me. And he was fired up. Don’t get me wrong. It wasn’t like he was just going normally about his business. He was fired up, but he was in a comfort zone.”

The Dodgers prepped for the game by hitting off a virtual Yesavage in the Trajekt robotic pitching machine. The machine adjusts itself to match the exact release point and pitch shape of Yesavage.

“Once we set it,” one Dodger said, “it kept raising and raising until it was as far as it could go.” The high-tech pitching machine, the team source said, goes for about $300,000 with another annual fee of about $100,000 for software. The machine was invented by two former engineering students at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, about two miles from Toronto.

It didn’t help the Dodgers, nor did seeing him a second time in five days.

“Just complete dominance,” Gausman said. “When he has his split,” said teammate Max Scherzer, “it’s borderline unhittable.”

By the end of the night, Yesavage had himself a place as one of the greatest phenoms in World Series history, not to mention a $140 bottle of tequila in his locker as a reward from teammates for a job well done. 

Payet sofre com dores e desfalca o Vasco diante do Palmeiras

MatériaMais Notícias

Dimitri Payet será desfalque do Vasco no duelo com o Palmeiras nesta quinta-feira (13), pela oitava rodada do Brasileirão. O camisa 10 sofre com dores na perna e sequer viajará para São Paulo com o elenco cruz-maltino. A informação é do portal “ge”.

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➡️ Tudo sobre o Gigante agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso canal Lance! Vasco

O francês já era tido como dúvida desde segunda-feira (10) por conta do problema. Como as dores persistiram, o meia será preservado pela comissão técnica e seguirá fazendo tratamento no Rio de Janeiro.

Além de Payet, quem desfalca o Vasco na partida contra o Palmeiras é Praxedes. O volante eve lesão na coxa direita constatada e não tem condições de jogo. O chileno Gary Medel, que negocia com o Boca Juniors e não deve mais vestir a camisa do Cruz-Maltino, também fica fora do confronto.

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No entanto, o técnico Álvaro Pacheco contará com a volta do atacante Adson, poupado no clássico com o Flamengo por conta de um desconforto muscular. Como o exame não detectou lesão, o ponta treinou normalmente durante a semana e reforça o Vasco nesta quinta-feira (13).

Tudo sobre

PalmeirasPayetVasco

ترتيب هدافي الدوري الإنجليزي بعد هدف فودين في مباراة مانشستر سيتي وسندرلاند

رفع فيل فودين مهاجم مانشستر سيتي، رصيده في جدول ترتيب هدافي الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، بعدما سجل لصالح فريقه أمام سندرلاند.

ويستقبل مانشستر سيتي خصمه سندرلاند على ملعب “الاتحاد” ضمن مباريات الجولة الخامسة عشر للدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز “البريميرليج” لموسم 2025-2026.

وسجل فودين الهدف الثالث لصالح مانشستر سيتي في شباك سندرلاند، وذلك بالدقيقة 65 من عمر المباراة.

ويحافظ النرويجي إيرلينج هالاند مهاجم مانشستر سيتي، على صدارة ترتيب الهدافين برصيد 15 هدفًا.

ورفع هوجو إيكتيكي رصيده التهديفي أيضًا، بإحراز هدفين لصالح ليفربول أمام ليدز يونايتد في مباريات الجولة ذاتها. ترتيب هدافي الدوري الإنجليزي

1. إيرلينج هالاند، مانشستر سيتي، 15 هدفًا.

2. تياجو، برينتفورد، 11 هدفًا.

3. فيليب ماتيتا، كريستال بالاس، 7 أهداف.

4. داني ويلباك، براتون، 7 أهداف.

5. فيل فودين، مانشستر سيتي، 6 أهداف.

6. بريان مبيومو، مانشستر يونايتد، 6 أهداف.

7. أنطوان سيمينيو، بورنموث، 6 أهداف.

8. ريتشارليسون، توتنهام، 6 أهداف.

9. هوجو إيكتيكي، ليفربول 5 أهداف.

10. برونو جيماريش، نيوكاسل، 5 أهداف.

11. نيك فولتماده، نيوكاسل، 5 أهداف.

12. محمد صلاح، ليفربول، 4 أهداف.

13. كودي جاكبو، ليفربول، 4 أهداف.

ويمكن متابعة ترتيب هدافي الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، موسم 2025/26، محدث بشكل مستمر من هنا.

Mookie Betts Is the Latest Recipient of Dave Roberts’s Distinct Management Style

LOS ANGELES — Sometimes, a Dodgers player will check the news and find his name in it, alongside his manager’s. Dave Roberts has told the media—and through them, the fans—that he finds something about the player’s performance unacceptable. The player is rarely surprised. 

This week, it has been star shortstop Mookie Betts: “I think he’s pressing,” was Roberts’s diagnosis after Betts went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in Game 5 of the World Series to bring his series batting average to .130. “You can see there’s a little anxiousness there.”

This is an unusual approach for a modern manager. This October, Padres skipper Mike Shildt praised right fielder Fernando Tatís’s at-bat quality all the way through his 1-for-12 National League wild-card series. Cubs manager Craig Counsell discounted the idea that Pete Crow-Armstrong was trying to do too much even as the center fielder swung at breaking balls in the dirt. Yankees skipper Aaron Boone spent much of the summer insisting that shortstop Anthony Volpe, who over a two-week stretch in August had more errors (two) than hits (one), had just been unlucky. Six days after the Blue Jays bounced the Yankees from the playoffs, Volpe underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. 

Meanwhile, last week, Roberts told the assembled media that the Dodgers would not win the World Series if two-way star Shohei Ohtani’s at-bats did not improve. 

PHILLIPS: Inside the Numbers of the Dodgers’ Postseason Offensive Collapse

You might expect that sort of public criticism to rankle his players. They say it does the opposite. 

“I’ve always loved it,” says third baseman Max Muncy. “When he comes out and says things in statements to the media, it’s not anything he hasn’t told the player before. So the player is never being caught off guard. And sometimes as players, you need to feel that pressure. If he’s just talking to you and he says it, that’s one thing, but if he talks to you and says it, and then you see it on MLB Network, then it’s like, ”

Roberts sees that level of candor as part of his job. 

“I think it’s important for them, for the fans and the media to know that I have certain standards and expectations, and it’s not an embarrassment [thing], it's a transparency [thing],” he says. “And I think that they know that I root for them as hard as anyone else, and so when I’m honest with the media, I think that’s why it lands. I am also the first to support them and back them when things aren’t going well, but I do feel that there’s times where I feel like I gotta be honest with what everyone’s seeing, and I just think that I’ve built enough equity with our guys that they know that I’m not just trying to embarrass them.”

Roberts is typically transparent with his opinions during press conferences. / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

And everyone agrees that this only works because Roberts is as willing to challenge his stars as he is his scrubs. After the Dodgers fell to the Padres in four games in the NLDS in 2022, Roberts acknowledged, “You look at that dugout versus our dugout, there was more intensity there.” (He later pointed out that this was as much a criticism of himself as the manager as it was of any player.) This season alone he has identified a lack of “edge” in both reliever Blake Treinen and right fielder Teoscar Hernández. 

“When you come in, you’re part of a team,” Muncy says. “It’s not a one-man show. And if you’re doing something negative to that team, you’re gonna get called out about it. It doesn’t matter what your number is, doesn’t matter what your stats are, doesn’t matter what your legacy is. If you’re not doing something to help that team win, you’re putting us in a hole, [and he’ll tell you]. And that really contributes to the culture we’ve created.” He adds, “Sometimes you gotta get guys out of their comfort zone if you want to get the best out of somebody.”

Betts, a frequent recipient of public concern from his manager about his mental approach—last year Roberts wondered aloud if Betts’s postseason struggles had gotten to him—seems almost surprised that not everyone does it this way. 

“I think he’s just holding us accountable,” says Betts. “I think that’s really important. I don’t care who you are. If you’re Shohei or the last guy on the team, everyone needs to be held accountable. Usually people like Shohei, [most people] don’t really say anything to him. If he messes up, you kind of let him do his thing. You know he’ll fix it. But it doesn’t work like that. You need someone to hold you accountable. If you want to be good, you should probably hold your guys accountable.”

Indeed, Roberts says he goes out of his way to make sure he’s focusing his most intense criticism on his best players. 

“I think I’m probably more apt to do it with those guys, because a lot of times they get a lot more grace than the 26th man,” he says.

And they seem to understand his intent. Besides, if the Dodgers are flustered when their manager acknowledges publicly that they are struggling, are they really mentally equipped to play at the highest level? After Roberts lamented what Ohtani’s at-bat quality was doing to the team, the two-way star agreed with him. 

“The other way to say it,” Ohtani pointed out in response in Japanese, according to the , “Is that if I hit, we will win.”

The other key, Roberts says, is that he expects his players to do the same to him. From time to time, he says, he’ll make a decision, then return to his office to find Betts waiting to discuss it with him. Enforcing a standard means enforcing it for everyone, including himself. It also means that if the Dodgers lose the World Series this weekend, they will hear about it from fans and from the media—and from their manager. 

Chelsea hold talks with defender’s camp as Moises Caicedo offers thoughts on signing

Chelsea are in conversation with the representatives of a defender as midfielder Moises Caicedo offers his opinion on the potential transfer, according to a new report.

Chelsea play Bournemouth after Leeds United blow

Chelsea travel to Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon desperately seeking a response to their shock midweek defeat at Leeds, with Enzo Maresca’s title credentials under scrutiny after a damaging loss that left them nine points adrift of Arsenal.

The Blues suffered a humiliating 3-1 loss at Elland Road on Wednesday, falling two goals behind by halftime before Pedro Neto’s second-half strike proved insufficient.

The defeat represented their second loss to newly-promoted opposition this season, raising fresh doubts about their ability to maintain consistency and challenge Mikel Arteta for the Premier League.

Bournemouth present a challenge despite their own recent struggles.

The Cherries have endured a miserable November without a single victory, collecting just one point from four games while conceding 12 goals.

Tuesday’s narrow 1-0 home defeat to Everton extended their winless streak to five matches and marked their first loss at the Vitality Stadium all campaign.

Andoni Iraola’s side have plummeted from second to 14th during this barren spell, though they remain only five points behind fourth-placed Chelsea with significant room for optimism.

The hosts have collected 14 of their 19 Premier League points on home soil this season, establishing the Vitality as a fortress until Everton’s breakthrough.

Chelsea arrive as clear favourites based on superior stats and historical dominance, having won 15 of 23 meetings between the two clubs.

However, the visitors face selection headaches, with Caicedo still serving his suspension after picking up five yellow cards.

The Ecuadorian’s absence is a significant blow given his pivotal role protecting the defence, and Caicedo’s presence was sorely missed against Leeds.

Fabrizio Romano says 24-year-old has now played his last game for Chelsea

He doesn’t have a future in west London.

ByEmilio Galantini Dec 4, 2025

Chelsea boast the division’s best away attacking record with 15 goals in seven games, averaging over two goals per match. Yet, their vulnerability without Caicedo was exposed ruthlessly by Leeds, with the midfield lacking its usual protection.

While the £150,000-per-week star continues to sit out, he’s at least making himself useful in other ways.

Chelsea hold talks with Joel Ordonez as Moises Caicedo offers opinion

That is according to TEAMtalk and journalist Graeme Bailey, who report on Chelsea’s serious interest in Club Brugge defender Joel Ordonez.

Chelsea have renewed contact with Ordonez’s representatives in recent weeks as they intensify their pursuit of the 21-year-old, with Caicedo also offering behind-the-scenes ‘thoughts’ about his former Independiente del Valle teammate.

The west Londoners are said to have tracked him since before his 2023 move to Belgium, maintaining long-standing interest in the player.

Caicedo and Ordonez developed their friendship during their time together at Independiente’s famed South American academy, and have remained close through international duty.

The Chelsea midfielder now appears to be playing agent, giving his verdict on Ordonez to the club’s hierarchy.

Liverpool represent significant competition for Ordonez’s signature, though.

Arne Slot’s side have monitored him closely over the past year as they desperately seek solutions to their defensive crisis. The Reds initially prioritised Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi, but understand he will not depart Selhurst Park during January, forcing them to explore alternative options.

Crucially, both Club Brugge and Ordonez himself are open to a winter transfer, with England emerging as the most likely destination.

Fresh discussions between the player’s camp and Chelsea have taken place recently, building on months of established communication channels, but Man City and Tottenham are also keen.

City and Spurs have shown admiration for Ordonez, closely assessing him in recent weeks as they evaluate their own defensive requirements.

However, Chelsea and Liverpool currently lead the race after laying more groundwork, and perhaps Caicedo’s presence could prove key here in the race for Ordonez’s signature.

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